Nostalgia: a one of a kind festival experience

Nostalgia: Young entrepreneurs creating one of a kind festival experience

On the fringe of Christchurch’s rebuild and regeneration a group of young maverick creatives are working together to organise one of New Zealand’s most unique festival experiences. With a festival focussed on sustainable and locally sourced food, wine and entertainment.

Nostalgia is a daylong festival that showcases a growing list of Christchurch’s best creative and culinary heroes, as well as providing a platform for emerging artists and entrepreneurs within the replica 1900’s township at Ferrymead Heritage Park.

The festival is in its third year and, on February 20, 2016, will headline New Zealand’s favourite indie rock band: The Phoenix Foundation.

Nostalgia’s creator and director, Johnny Gibson (28), who developed the event from the ground up from just an idea, said he set out this year to establish more collaboration between the hosts acting as stallholders to create an all-encompassing festival experience.

“We’ve always had incredible stalls and a broad offering of food and activities, but this year we’ve brought everyone together to create something totally unique; where people have the freedom to create their own enjoyment and experience.

“It wasn’t until we all got together as a group that the experience element we wanted to achieve actually materialised. We’re definitely providing more ways for people to get involved with the day, for instance food, wine and beer matches.”

The group is made up of an eclectic mix of individuals who all share an unwavering determination to make Christchurch a destination city for all things food, wine and culture.

Chef Alex Davies has been involved with Nostalgia since day one and said the festival has given him an opportunity to experiment with food pairing ideas that he hopes will help people find their palate for new tastes.

“We’ve all worked on different creative projects separately, but we’ve never had the opportunity to work as a group at this scale. This year I’m working with all the food stalls as well as Winefolk to create a wine and food experience that should bend some conventional ideas about what goes with what,” said Davies.

Tickets and information available from nostalgiafestival.co.nz

Nostalgia Festival
12.30pm -7.30pm
Saturday 20 February 2016, Ferrymead Heritage Park

Group includes:

Johnny Gibson: Nostalgia Festival creator and Neat Places Business Manager
Bryony Matthews: Musician and Nostalgia’s 2nd Stage Manage
Zak Cooper: Entertainment Manager, Foundation Entertainment
Liv Worshop: Creator of Plant Gang and Nostalgia’s Festival Designer
Emma Donald: Owner of Buchan Street Retro and Nostalgia’s Mini-Market Organiser
Alex Davies: Chef and Nostalgia’s Food Ambassador
Alissa Miller: Creator of Winefolk and Nostalgia’s Wine Experience
Rachel Morton: Programme Manager, RDU and Nostalgia’s Music Manager
T’Nealle Joie: Bar operator and Nostalgia’s ‘Punch Club’ Drinks Manager
Anna Worthington: Cakes By Anna, stall holder
Sam Ellis: Grizzly Bagel, stall holder

More about Nostalgia:

The festival hosts local bespoke arts and crafts, street performers, a barber, a tattoo artist and more
Other festival acts include; Tami Neilson, The Eastern, Devilish Mary & the Holy Rollers and Fraser Ross
The heritage park’s steam train will be operating for the day, as well as 22 park societies
2016 see’s the addition of a much improved second stage, named The Punch Club, which features local music acts, a cocktail bar and Mexican street food
Winefolk will create a pop-up wine event within the festival where people can discover new wine, meet winemakers and experience wines from Canterbury and abroad
The main craft beer tent is back featuring Cassels & Sons brews -including the festival specific brew: Golden Age
Lyttleton Coffee Co will create a pop-up coffee shop at the festival
An extensive food offering featuring the likes of Cakes By Anna and cult burger master Heisenburger and plenty, plenty more.

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